Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-18
THE MURDER MYSTERY
The Preliminary Examina.
ton Continued.
MISS WOOLSTEEN'S CONDITION
She Is Unable to Appear in Court.
Her Sister Released from
Custody.

The mystery surrounding the death
of DR.. Harlan is still uppermost in the
mind of the public, and the probabil-
tiles are that it will be some time be-
fore it has been cleared up satisfac-
torily. The announcement that the
examination Of Miss Hattie Woolstein
would take place yesterday afternoon
before Justice Austin called thither a
large number Of curious people
who were disappointed, for the
examination did not take place. Miss
Hattie was taken on Sunday to the
county Jail upon the order oil
Sheriff Kays, to whose custody she
was committed when arrested upon
the warrant charging her with mur-
der. At the time for which the exam
ination was set Miss Hattie was at
the county Jail, too i'll to be moved
and in precarious condition, unable
to speak except to assert her
innocence. A HERALD reporter
called at the Jail yesterday
afternoon, but was not permitted to
see Miss Woolsteen on account OF her
illness. Miss Minnie, her sister, who
had been on visit to her, was coming
down the stairs at the time, and the
reporter introduced himself and asked
the favor of few minutes interview.
The young lady being requested to
state what had happened after her
sister had taken the chloroform, said:
Gas soon as Mr.. Darcy became aware
that Hattie had swallowed poison he
turned vehemently toward me and
said, &C. d you, you have given it
to her. He then ordered Captain
Fletcher and Officer Bosqui to search
me and they removed my dress, but
those were the only indignities that
were offered me. l was very much
astonished at Mr.. Darcy swearing at
me as he did, because | have never
been used to such conduct in all my
life, and furthermore l was totally in
nocent of what he imputed to me. l
had reason to believe that my sister
carried something, but l knew not
what it was.
l cannot think OF any occasion when
my sister told Sergeant Jefries any
thing respecting the murder. | was
with her nearly all the time and heard
her make no confes sion. l assure you
that my sister is innocent. She has
repeatedly stated it to me and
to others. We have never been
separated, and l know her
as well as do myself. She is inno-
cent of the murder of DR.. Harlan. l
don't want it said that was harshly
treated by the police. Captain Fletcher
and Mr.. Fitch have treated me and
my sister like daughters, and the lat
Ter has been so good to us that we can
never forget his kindness.
Miss Minnie is a little younger than
Hattie, expresses herself we'll, and it
is easy to see that she has been
brought up carefully and virtuously.
She had been placed in confinement
in the Chiefs private Office at 6
O'Clock Sunday evening, but at a
quarter to II O'Clock yesterday morn
ing she was released, there being no
charge against her on the books at the
police office. 1t was after her release
that she was interviewed by the re-
porter, and her statement of the man
ner in which she was searched agrees
with that of Chief Darcy.
CHIEF DARCY's STATEMENT.
There had been some statements
made to the effect that Chief
Darcy had ordered her searched
and that the officers had re-
moved all her clothing except her
chemise. This Miss Minnie denied
to the reporter and last evening Chief
Darcy stated to Herald representa-
tive that such was not the case. He
said that after what had oc-
Cured in relation to her sis
ter he thought best that she
should be searched and the law
allowing him no female assistant for
such purpose he had ordered Cap
tain Fletcher and an officer to search
her. This they did, but the only gar
ment removed was the outer dress.
None of the underclothes were re-
moved and she was treated as con-
as possible under the cir
cumstances.
There was theory entertained that
Miss Hattie had killed Harlan be-
cause he had seduced her, but she
stated positively to person that such
was not the case. 1t is stated that
he was very much in love with the
girl and that he had said to a friend
with whom he was riding, "let us go
and see my girl. She is alone"
When they reached the house where
Hattie lived, Harlan espied her walk
ing down the street. He turned round
to his companion and signing deeply
made some remark which showed
that he was very much discouraged at
seeing her in thecompany OF someone
else. After that it is said he attempted
to borrow gun.' 1t has been said by
acuuaintances of Harlan that he was
not man to kill himself. This theory
is gaining ground. Hon Stephen nj.
White and Col. G. Wiley Wells have
been engaged to defend the young
woman and the case will be called for
preliminary examination in Justice
Austin's court on Tuesday next at IL
A.. NJ. 1t was stated last evening that
Miss Minnie Woolstein had retained
Hon. Stephen M. White and that she
will commence suit against Chief
Darcy for damages for false impris-
onment.
ANOTHER THEORY.
Last night reporter of the HERALD
was told by party who is more or
less responsible, that the killing Of
Harlan was really murder, but that
the murderer was a man named John
M. Oliver, first cousin of Hattie
Woolsteen. 1t would appear from